Since everyone was so helpful when I had issues with getting respite, I thought I would ask about my latest problem. My husband is on an attached posting which means he will be away for about 15/16 month in total. I’m so sorry for the length of this post, I don’t know how much detail people need to help answer my question.
We live off base and it’s expensive to the base ($50 round trip for a taxi). There is no bus service that goes to the base.
This has been an issue for me for well over three maybe four years now. I am tired of paying $50 for a cab anytime I want to get to the base when my husband is deployed (and he’s done a lot of courses besides this tour so he’s been away more often than not). I’m not complaining about him being away, I know it’s a part of the life. What I am hoping is for some advice on two things, if I am being unreasonable asking for a ride, and if I am not, then who should be giving me a ride?
Here is what happened lately when I asked if there was any service where I could get a ride to the MFRC for my daughter and I to use the VLT to talk with my husband. We have never used to VLT before. My husband does not want me to take a cab because of the high chance of a comms lockout (its happened once a week for the past three weeks, so there’s a decent chance unfortunately it could happen). Then we would be paying $100 to get to/from the VLT.
Whenever my husband asks around where he is deployed, he’s told to contact the Rear Party. There is no rear party at the base we’re at (air base), or that’s what we understood. The deployment coordinator at the MFRC said “It is not our policy to provide transportation. If you feel that your rear party (which is your section) might provide transportation you are welcome to contact them.” I have a letter which CLEARLY states, without any whisper of a doubt that I am NOT to contact the unit (via the sponsor) except for communications purposes (ie if I need to reach my husband). Since the FSS (in Edmonton, where my husband I attach posted for this tour) is able to reach my husband much faster, in reality there is no need to even contact my husband’s unit. I feel like I am getting the run around. I have contacted the Padres both here and in Edmonton as well as the FSS about various issues and I get tossed between the base I’m at and Edmonton as no one wants to take responsibility for me.
I feel like, once again, same as when I asked for respite, I am being unreasonable and whiney. And maybe I am, I really don’t know. Should I just suck it up and pay $50 every time I want to get to the base?
I assume this would vary, but what would happen at other bases in the case of a spouse whose husband is deployed and the spouse does not drive but they want to use the VLT?
We live off base and it’s expensive to the base ($50 round trip for a taxi). There is no bus service that goes to the base.
This has been an issue for me for well over three maybe four years now. I am tired of paying $50 for a cab anytime I want to get to the base when my husband is deployed (and he’s done a lot of courses besides this tour so he’s been away more often than not). I’m not complaining about him being away, I know it’s a part of the life. What I am hoping is for some advice on two things, if I am being unreasonable asking for a ride, and if I am not, then who should be giving me a ride?
Here is what happened lately when I asked if there was any service where I could get a ride to the MFRC for my daughter and I to use the VLT to talk with my husband. We have never used to VLT before. My husband does not want me to take a cab because of the high chance of a comms lockout (its happened once a week for the past three weeks, so there’s a decent chance unfortunately it could happen). Then we would be paying $100 to get to/from the VLT.
Whenever my husband asks around where he is deployed, he’s told to contact the Rear Party. There is no rear party at the base we’re at (air base), or that’s what we understood. The deployment coordinator at the MFRC said “It is not our policy to provide transportation. If you feel that your rear party (which is your section) might provide transportation you are welcome to contact them.” I have a letter which CLEARLY states, without any whisper of a doubt that I am NOT to contact the unit (via the sponsor) except for communications purposes (ie if I need to reach my husband). Since the FSS (in Edmonton, where my husband I attach posted for this tour) is able to reach my husband much faster, in reality there is no need to even contact my husband’s unit. I feel like I am getting the run around. I have contacted the Padres both here and in Edmonton as well as the FSS about various issues and I get tossed between the base I’m at and Edmonton as no one wants to take responsibility for me.
I feel like, once again, same as when I asked for respite, I am being unreasonable and whiney. And maybe I am, I really don’t know. Should I just suck it up and pay $50 every time I want to get to the base?
I assume this would vary, but what would happen at other bases in the case of a spouse whose husband is deployed and the spouse does not drive but they want to use the VLT?